System for stacking fuel cells

ABSTRACT

A system for stacking fuel cells for a fuel cell stack includes, a component part storage region to store the fuel cells, a finished product storage region to store a completed fuel cell stack transferred by an automated guided vehicle, and a plurality of stacking regions disposed between the component part storage region and the finished product storage region, where a pair of stacking units are disposed at opposite sides of a first transfer robot that is centrally disposed in the stacking region, one side of the stacking region is formed as an entry and exit for the automated guided vehicle for the fuel cell stack, and the stacking region is supplied with the fuel cells from the component part storage region by the automated guided vehicle to sequentially stack the fuel cells to manufacture the fuel cell stack.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2020-0172750 filed in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office on Dec. 10, 2020, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a system for stacking fuel cells.

BACKGROUND

In general, when water is electrolyzed, hydrogen and oxygen aregenerated, and a hydrogen fuel cell is a device that uses the reversereaction of this electrolysis.

The hydrogen fuel cell refers to producing electricity by supplyinghydrogen as fuel and reacting with oxygen in air.

Unlike general chemical batteries, these hydrogen fuel cells maycontinuously generate electricity as long as fuel and air are supplied,and have higher energy efficiency and no noise than the turbine powergeneration method using fossil fuels.

In addition, the hydrogen fuel cell is an environment-friendly energysource that generates less greenhouse gas, and is a new energy that maybe applied in various fields such as transportation, power generation,home, and portable use.

A typical term of hydrogen fuel cell is used to indicate a combinationof a plurality of cells rather than a single cell, and is also called afuel cell battery, a fuel cell stack, and the like.

The cell for the hydrogen fuel cell battery is manufactured by stackingnegative electrodes, negative electrode gaskets, gas diffusion layers,membrane electrode assemblies, and positive electrodes.

However, in the manufacture of a cell for a hydrogen fuel cell accordingto the prior art, the cathode electrode, the cathode electrode gasket,the gas diffusion layer, the membrane electrode assembly, and the anodeelectrode are stacked one by one by the operator's manual labor, or onlylocal automation of stacking is available. Thus, the manufacturing ofhydrogen fuel cells is not fully automated.

Typically, a large number of, e.g., more than 1000, sheets of thenegative electrode, negative electrode gasket, gas diffusion layer,membrane electrode assembly, and positive electrode are stacked to forma hydrogen fuel cell stack, increasing the cycle time. Thus, cycle timeis large, and productivity is deteriorated.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is only forenhancement of understanding of the background of the disclosure, andtherefore it may contain information that does not form the prior artthat is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill inthe art.

SUMMARY

A system for stacking fuel cells for a fuel cell stack may include, acomponent part storage region configured to store the fuel cells, afinished product storage region configured to store a completed fuelcell stack transferred by at least one automated guided vehicle (AGV),and a plurality of stacking regions disposed between the component partstorage region and the finished product storage region, where a firsttransfer robot is located at a central portion of each stacking region,a pair of stacking units are disposed at opposite sides of a firsttransfer robot that is centrally disposed in the stacking region, oneside of the stacking region is formed as an entry and exit for the atleast one automated guided vehicle for the fuel cell stack, and thestacking region is supplied with the fuel cells from the component partstorage region by the at least one automated guided vehicle tosequentially stack the fuel cells to manufacture the fuel cell stack.

The component part storage region may include a first tray that ismulti-layered to store a plurality of types of fuel cells.

The finished product storage region may include second tray that ismulti-layered to store the fuel cell stack.

The first transfer robot may be configured to assemble and package thefuel cell stack stacked in the stacking region, and transfers the fuelcell stack to the at least one automated guided vehicle.

The at least one automated guided vehicle may include a first automatedguided vehicle moving between the component part storage region and thestacking region and a second automated guided vehicle moving between thestacking region and the finished product storage region.

The stacking unit may include, a pair of loading portions eachconfigured to seat the fuel cells supplied from the at least oneautomated guided vehicle, a stacking portion disposed between the pairof loading portions, and configured to sequentially stack the fuel cellstransferred from the loading portion, and a pair of transferringportions each disposed between the loading portion and the stackingportion, and configured to simultaneously clamp the fuel cell loaded onthe loading portion and transfer the clamp the fuel cells to thestacking portion.

The loading portion may include, a plurality of loading tables thatvertically operate as the fuel cell is stacked, a vacuum adsorberdisposed adjacent to the loading table, and configured to remove a slipsheet of the fuel cell transferred from the loading table, throughvacuum adsorption, and a vision camera disposed adjacent to the vacuumadsorber, and configured to picture the fuel cell removed with the slipsheet.

The loading table may include, a first upper plate on which the fuelcells are stacked, a plurality of first guider bars installed topenetrate the first upper plate and configured to align the fuel cellsstacked on the first upper plate, a first lower plate disposed below thefirst upper plate and fixed to the plurality of first guider bars, afirst screw shaft installed at a central portion of a lower surface ofthe first upper plate, engaged with a first screw housing that isrotatably mounted on the first lower plate through a first bearinghousing, and formed with a first bevel gear, and a first servo-motorengaged with the first bevel gear of the first screw shaft andconfigured to apply torque to the first screw shaft through the firstscrew housing to vertically operate the first upper plate.

The loading table may further include a first height sensor configuredto operate forward and backward with respect to a first auxiliary platefixed to the first upper plate, and measure a position of the firstupper plate.

The stacking portion may include, a rotation plate disposed between thepair of loading portions, and configured to rotate through a rotationportion configured at a central portion of the rotation plate where apenetration hole is formed, a plurality of stacking tables disposed onan upper surface of the rotation plate, and configured to sequentiallystack the fuel cells transferred by the transferring portion to a presetquantity, and vertically operate as the fuel cells are stacked, and atester configured to perform a leakage test for the fuel cells stackedon the stacking table when connected to the stacking table havingstacked the preset quantity of fuel cells by the rotation of therotation plate.

The rotation portion may include, a first rack gear formed at aninterior circumference of the penetration hole, a first drive gearengaged with the first rack gear, and a third servo-motor connected tothe first drive gear and configured to transmit driving torque to thefirst drive gear.

The stacking table may include, a second upper plate on which the fuelcells are stacked, a plurality of second guider bars installed topenetrate the second upper plate and configured to align the fuel cellsstacked on the second upper plate, a second lower plate disposed belowthe second upper plate and fixed to the plurality of second guider bars,a second screw shaft installed at a central portion of a lower surfaceof the second upper plate, engaged with a second screw housing that isrotatably mounted on the second lower plate through second bearinghousing, and formed with a second bevel gear, and a second servo-motorengaged with the second bevel gear of the second screw shaft andconfigured to apply torque to the second screw shaft through the secondscrew housing to vertically operate the second upper plate.

The stacking table may further include a second height sensor configuredto operate forward and backward with respect to a second auxiliary platefixed to the second upper plate, and measure a position of the secondupper plate.

The tester may be configured to, when the stacking table is positionedto a home position by the rotation of the rotation plate, move downwardto the stacking table to be connected the stacking table and inject gasinto the fuel cells 10 stacked on the stacking table.

The transferring portion may include, a fourth servo-motor installed inan actuation body, and connected to a second drive gear through avertically disposed drive shaft, a circular plate coupled to the seconddrive gear, at least one supporting member extending from the circularplate in the form of a cantilever and integrally formed to the circularplate, and an adsorber disposed downward at an end portion of thesupporting member, and configured to vertically operate, adsorb the fuelcells loaded in the loading portion, and transfer the adsorbed fuelcells to the stacking portion.

The adsorber may include, an adsorption plate configured to clamp andunclamp the fuel cell through vacuum adsorption and release, a thirdscrew shaft that is connected to the adsorption plate and inserted intoan engagement hole of the supporting member, and configured tovertically operate through the engagement hole, and a fifth servo-motorengaged with a driven gear configured at the third screw shaft andconfigured to apply a torque to the third screw shaft to verticallyoperate the adsorption plate.

The transferring portion may further include, a collision preventingmember formed to the circular plate in a direction apart from the atleast one supporting member, and a pressure sensor mounted at an endportion of the collision preventing member interposing a spring.

According to a system for stacking the fuel cells according to anexemplary embodiment, a production line may be formed from supplying ofthe fuel cell to storing the completed fuel cell stack, and thereby itis possible to reduce labor costs and improve production quality.

According to a system for stacking the fuel cells 10 according to anexemplary embodiment, by optimally designing arrangement of workingregions, movements of the first transfer robot 30 may be minimized. Inaddition, by disposing a loading portion at both sides of the stackingportion and employing a rotatable transferring portion, overall cycletime may be reduced, and productivity may be improved.

Other effects that may be obtained or are predicted by an exemplaryembodiment will be explicitly or implicitly described in a detaileddescription of the present disclosure. That is, various effects that arepredicted according to an exemplary embodiment will be described in thefollowing detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a general schematic diagram of a hydrogen fuel cell stackmanufactured by a system for stacking fuel cells according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an overall schematic diagram of a system for stacking fuelcells according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a stacking region applied to a systemfor stacking fuel cells according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a stacking unit applied to a system forstacking fuel cells according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a loading portion applied to a systemfor stacking fuel cells according to an exemplary embodiment

FIG. 6 is another schematic diagram of a loading portion applied to asystem for stacking fuel cells according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a stacking portion applied to a systemfor stacking fuel cells according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a transferring portion applied to asystem for stacking fuel cells according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodimentsof the disclosure are shown. As those skilled in the art would realize,the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, allwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.

In order to clarify the present disclosure, parts that are not relatedto the description will be omitted, and the same elements or equivalentsare referred to with the same reference numerals throughout thespecification.

In the following description, dividing names of components into first,second, and the like is to divide the names because the names of thecomponents are the same as each other, and an order thereof is notparticularly limited.

A system for stacking fuel cells according to an exemplary embodimentmay be used to manufacture a fuel cell stack.

Particularly, a system for stacking fuel cells according to an exemplaryembodiment may be applied to manufacture a hydrogen fuel cell stack.

FIG. 1 is a general schematic diagram of a hydrogen fuel cell stackmanufactured by a system for stacking fuel cells according to anexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the hydrogen fuel cell stack 1 may be manufacturedby stacking generally 1000 pieces of fuel cells 10 formed of a gasdiffusion layer 11, a positive electrode 12, a polymer electrolytemembrane 13, a negative electrode 14, and an oxygen diffusion layer 15.

That is, each fuel cell 10 includes the gas diffusion layer 11, thepositive electrode 12, the polymer electrolyte membrane 13, the negativeelectrode 14, and the oxygen diffusion layer 15, and the fuel cell stack1 is supposed to be formed by stacking generally 1000 pieces of the fuelcells 10.

FIG. 2 is an overall schematic diagram of a system for stacking fuelcells according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2 , a system for stacking fuel cells according to anexemplary embodiment includes a component part storage region 40, afinished product storage region 50, and a stacking region 60.

The component part storage region 40 is a region that stores the fuelcells 10.

The component part storage region 40 may include a first tray 41 that ismulti-layered to store various types of the fuel cells 10.

The first tray 41 includes a plurality of compartments disposedhorizontally and vertically, and each fuel cell 10 may be stored in eachcompartment

In addition, the finished product storage region 50 is a region thatstores the fuel cell stack 1 completed in the stacking region 60 andtransferred by the automated guided vehicle 20.

The finished product storage region 50 may include a second tray 51 thatis multi-layered to store a plurality of types of the fuel cell stack 1.

The second tray 51 includes a plurality of compartments disposedhorizontally and vertically, and each fuel cell stack 1 may be stored ineach compartment

At this time, a first transfer robot 30 assembles and packages the fuelcell stack 1 stacked in the stacking region 60, and transfers the fuelcell stack 1 to the automated guided vehicle 20.

The first transfer robot 30 may clamp the fuel cell stack 1 through arobot arm while moving between the stacking units 61.

In a variation, the first transfer robot 30 may be fixed to the presetposition, e.g., a central portion, of the stacking units 61 andconfigured to clamp the fuel cell stack 1 through the robot arm.

In addition, the automated guided vehicle 20 may include a firstautomated guided vehicle 20 a moving between the component part storageregion 40 and the stacking region 60 and a second automated guidedvehicle 20 b moving between the stacking region 60 and the finishedproduct storage region 50.

The first automated guided vehicle 20 a and the second automated guidedvehicle 20 b moves along preset paths, respectively.

In the present disclosure, the automated guided vehicle 20 is describedto include the first automated guided vehicle 20 a and the secondautomated guided vehicle 20 b, however, the present embodiment is notlimited thereto. It may be understood that one automated guided vehicle20 may be configured to move between the component part storage region40, the stacking region 60, and the finished product storage region 50.

Hereinafter, the embodiment is described in connection with an examplewhere one automated guided vehicle 20 moves the component part storageregion 40, the stacking region 60, and the finished product storageregion 50.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a stacking region applied to a systemfor stacking fuel cells according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 4 isa schematic diagram of a stacking unit applied to a system for stackingfuel cells according to an exemplary embodiment.

A plurality of stacking regions 60 are disposed between the componentpart storage region 40 and the finished product storage region 50.

The stacking region 60 is disposed to be supplied with the fuel cells 10from the component part storage region 40 by the automated guidedvehicle 20.

That is, the stacking region 60 may be disposed such that movement ofthe automated guided vehicle 20 may be minimized.

The plurality of stacking region 60 may be disposed at adjacentpositions with a same configuration.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the stacking region 60 includes a plurality ofstacking units 61 that is supplied with the fuel cells 10 from thecomponent part storage region 40 by the automated guided vehicle 20 andconfigured to sequentially stack the fuel cells 10 to manufacture thefuel cell stack 1.

The stacking unit 61 is disposed at opposite sides of the first transferrobot 30 that is centrally disposed in the stacking region 60.

One side of the stacking region 60 is formed as an entry and exit forthe automated guided vehicle 20 for the fuel cell stack.

In the stacking region 60, the fuel cells 10 is sequentially stacked tomanufacture the fuel cell stack 1, and then the fuel cell stack 1 isdischarged through the entry and exit by the automated guided vehicle20.

The stacking unit 61 may be configured to be supplied with andsequentially stack the fuel cells 10 to form the fuel cell stack 1, andpackage to finish the fuel cell stack 1 by the first transfer robot 30,e.g., by assembling with fasteners such as bolts.

For such a purpose, referring to FIG. 4 , each stacking unit 61includes, a pair of loading portions 63, a stacking portion 70, and atransferring portion 80 disposed adjacent to the stacking unit 61.

Each of the pair of loading portions 63 is configured to seat the fuelcells 10 supplied from the at least one automated guided vehicle 20.

At this time, each loading portion 63 may be supplied with fuel cells 10transferred by the automated guided vehicle 20, through a secondtransfer robot 31.

The pair of loading portions 63 are formed in the same configuration,and one loading portion 63 will be described as an example.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are respectively a schematic diagram of a loadingportion applied to a system for stacking fuel cells according to anexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the loading portion 63 includes a plurality ofloading tables 630 that vertically operate as the fuel cell 10 isstacked.

The quantity of the loading table 630 may be set depending on the typesof the fuel cell 10.

For example, FIG. 4 illustrates that three loading tables 630 aredisposed in the loading portion 63 shown in the left, and two loadingtables 630 are disposed in the loading portion 63 shown in the right

However, it may be understood that the present embodiment is not limitedto the illustrated number of loading tables 630.

The loading table 630 includes a first upper plate 631, a first guiderbar 632, a first lower plate 633, a first screw shaft 634, and a firstservo-motor M1.

The loading table 630 is configured to stack the fuel cells 10 on thefirst upper plate 631.

A plurality of first guider bars 632 are installed to penetrate thefirst upper plate 631.

For example, the first upper plate 631 may be formed in a shapecorresponding to the fuel cells 10, e.g., in a rectangular shape.

The first guider bars 632 may be mounted on each corner of the firstupper plate 631 such that the fuel cells 10 stacked on the upper surfaceof the first upper plate 631 may be aligned by the first guider bars632.

In addition, the first lower plate 633 is disposed below the first upperplate 631.

The first lower plate 633 is apart from the first upper plate 631 andfixed to the first guider bar 632.

The first screw shaft 634 is installed at a central portion of a lowersurface of the first upper plate 631.

Below the first upper plate 631, the first screw shaft 634 is engagedwith a first screw housing 636 that is rotatably mounted on the firstlower plate 633 through the first bearing housing 635.

At this time, a first bevel gear 637 is disposed at the first screwshaft 634, and connected to the first servo-motor M1.

That is, the first servo-motor M1 is engaged with the first bevel gear637 and configured to apply torque to the first screw shaft 634 throughthe first screw housing 636 to vertically operate the first upper plate631.

The height of the first upper plate 631 is adjusted as the fuel cells 10are stacked, and the loading table 630 is provided with a first heightsensor 64 used to adjust the height.

A first auxiliary plate 638 is fixed to a side surface of the firstupper plate 631, and the first height sensor 64 is configured to operateforward and backward with respect to the first auxiliary plate 638 andmeasure the height of the first upper plate 631 by measuring a relativedistance to the first auxiliary plate 638.

For example, the first height sensor 64 may include a first linear scale641 operated by a first air cylinder 640.

In addition, a vacuum adsorber 65 is disposed adjacent to the loadingtable 630.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the vacuum adsorber 65 may remove a slip sheet 16of the fuel cell 10 transferred from the adjacent loading table 630through vacuum adsorption.

A vision camera 67 is disposed adjacent, specifically attached in thisembodiment, to the vacuum adsorber 65.

The vision camera 67 is configured to picture the fuel cell 10 fromwhich the slip sheet 16 has been removed such that visual inspection ofthe removal of the slip sheet 16 may be available.

The vacuum adsorber 65 and the vision camera 67 may be configured tooperate when the slip sheet 16 is attached to the fuel cell 10.

In addition, the stacking portion 70 is formed between the pair ofloading portions 63.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a stacking portion applied to a systemfor stacking fuel cells according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7 , the fuel cells 10 transferred from the loadingportion 63 is sequentially stacked in the stacking portion 70.

That is, the fuel cells 10 are supplied from the component part storageregion 40 to the loading table 630, and the fuel cells 10 seated on theloading table 630 are transferred to and sequentially stacked in thestacking portion 70.

The stacking portion 70 includes a rotation plate 71, a stacking table730, and a tester 75.

The rotation plate 71 is disposed between the pair of loading portions63.

The rotation plate 71 rotates through a rotation portion 72 configuredat a central portion of the rotation plate 71 where a penetration hole720 is formed.

The rotation portion 72 includes a first rack gear 721 formed on aninterior circumference of the penetration hole 720.

In addition, the first rack gear 721 is engaged with a first drive gear722.

The first drive gear 722 is connected to a third servo-motor M3, whichtransmits a driving torque to the first drive gear 722.

In addition, a reducer 723 is interposed between the third servo-motorM3 and the first drive gear 722 to reduce the rotation speed of thethird servo-motor M3 such that the rotation speed of the rotation plate71 may be finely controlled by the third servo-motor M3.

A plurality of stacking table 730 are disposed on the upper surface ofthe rotation plate 71.

The stacking tables 730 may be disposed with a preset spacing along acircumference of the rotation plate 71.

For example, FIG. 7 illustrates that three stacking tables 730 aredisposed on the rotation plate 71 with a spacing of 120 degrees.

However, it may be understood that the present embodiment is not limitedto the illustrated configuration.

The fuel cells 10 transferred by the transferring portion 80 aresequentially stacked on the stacking table 730 to a preset quantity.

The stacking table 730 vertically operates as the fuel cells 10 arestacked.

The stacking table 730 may be formed in the same configuration as theloading table 630, and is not described in further detail.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the stacking table 730 includes a second upperplate 731, a second guider bar 732, a second lower plate 733, a secondscrew shaft 734, a second bearing housing 735, a second screw housing736, a second bevel gear 737, a second auxiliary plate 738, a secondservo-motor M2, a second height sensor 74, a second air cylinder 740,and a second linear scale 741.

For details of the second upper plate 731, the second guider bar 732,the second lower plate 733, the second screw shaft 734, the secondbearing housing 735, the second screw housing 736, the second bevel gear737, the second auxiliary plate 738, the second servo-motor M2, thesecond height sensor 74, the second air cylinder 740, and the secondlinear scale 741, the above description in connection with the firstupper plate 631, the first guider bar 632, the first lower plate 633,the first screw shaft 634, the first bearing housing 635, the firstscrew housing 636, the first bevel gear 637, the first auxiliary plate638, the first servo-motor M1, the first height sensor 64, the first aircylinder 640, and the first linear scale 641 may be referred to.

The stacking table 730 is configured to stack the fuel cells 10transferred from the pair of loading portions 63 while continuouslychanging position by a preset angle.

In addition, when the fuel cells 10 are stacked on the stacking table730 to the preset quantity, the stacking table 730 is connected to thetester 75 by the rotation of the rotation plate 71.

The tester 75 is to perform a leakage test of the stacked fuel cells 10,and may be fixed by a separate frame (not shown).

When the stacking table 730 having stacked the preset quantity of fuelcells 10 is positioned at a home position by the rotation of therotation plate 71, the tester 75 moves downward to the stacking table730 and is connected to the stacking table 730.

At this time, the tester 75 may be inserted between the second guiderbars 732.

The tester 75 is configured to inject gas into the fuel cells 10 stackedon the stacking table 730, for the leakage test.

The transferring portion 80 is formed between a corresponding loadingportion 63 and the stacking portion 70 described above.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a transferring portion applied to asystem for stacking fuel cells according to an exemplary embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the transferring portion 80 is configured tosimultaneously clamps the fuel cells 10 loaded in the loading portion 63and transfer the clamped fuel cells 10 to the stacking portion 70.

FIG. 4 illustrates a pair of transferring portion 80 each disposedbetween a corresponding loading portion 63 and the stacking portion 70,however, the present embodiment is not limited to the illustrated numberof transferring portions 80 and their configuration.

Each transferring portion 80 includes an actuation body 81 correspondingto the loading portions 63.

A fourth servo-motor M4 is installed in the actuation body 81.

The fourth servo-motor M4 is connected to a second drive gear 83 througha drive shaft that is vertically disposed.

A circular plate 85 is coupled to the second drive gear 83.

A supporting member 87 extends from the circular plate 85 in the form ofa cantilever, and is integrally formed to the circular plate 85.

It may be understood that FIG. 8 only illustrates a single supportingmember 87, however the present embodiment is not limited thereto. Morethan one supporting members 87 may be provided to simultaneously clampthe fuel cells 10.

For example, the quantity of the supporting member 87 may be dependenton the number of types of the fuel cells 10, such that different typesof fuel cells 10 may be processed at the same time.

For example, two supporting members 87 may be provided for onetransferring portion 80, and three supporting members 87 may be providedfor another transferring portion 80.

Such plurality of supporting members 87 may be configured to be spacedapart from each other.

An adsorber 89 is configured downward at an end portion of thesupporting member 87.

The adsorber 89 is configured to vertically operate, adsorb the fuelcells 10 loaded in the loading portion 63, and transfer the adsorbedfuel cells 10 to the stacking portion 70.

At this time, the adsorber 89 includes an adsorption plate 890 that maydirectly contact the fuel cell 10.

The adsorption plate 890 is configured to clamp and unclamp the fuelcell 10 through vacuum adsorption and release.

An upper surface of the adsorption plate 890 is connected to a thirdscrew shaft 891.

In more detail, the third screw shaft 891 is partially inserted into anengagement hole 893 of the supporting member 87.

The third screw shaft 891 is configured to vertically operate whilebeing coupled into the engagement hole 893.

This third screw shaft 891 may be operated by a fifth servo-motor M5.

A drive gear 895 is formed at an end of a drive shaft of the fifthservo-motor M5, and the drive gear 895 is engaged with a driven gear 897configured at a frontal end portion of the third screw shaft 891.

In addition, the fifth servo-motor M5 is configured to apply a torque tothe third screw shaft 891 to vertically operate the adsorption plate890.

In addition, a collision preventing member 90 may be formed to thecircular plate 85 of the transferring portion 80.

The collision preventing member 90 may be formed to the circular plate85 in a direction apart from the supporting member 87.

A pressure sensor 93 mounted at an end portion of the collisionpreventing member 90 interposing a spring 91.

The pressure sensor 93 is employed to detect and/or prevent a collisionwith another transferring portion 80, for example, in the case ofmalfunctioning of the transferring portion 80.

Therefore, according to a system for stacking the fuel cells accordingto an exemplary embodiment, a production line may be formed fromsupplying of the fuel cell to storing the completed fuel cell stack, andthereby it is possible to reduce labor costs and improve productionquality.

According to a system for stacking the fuel cells 10 according to anexemplary embodiment, by optimally designing arrangement of workingregions, movements of the first transfer robot 30 may be minimized. Inaddition, by disposing a loading portion at both sides of the stackingportion and employing a rotatable transferring portion, overall cycletime may be reduced, and productivity may be improved.

In addition, according to a system for stacking the fuel cells 10according to an exemplary embodiment, a stack height of the fuel cellmay be measured and controlled in real time, so the stack status of thefuel cell may be checked in rear time.

In addition, according to a system for stacking the fuel cells 10according to an exemplary embodiment, lean production is possible, andthere is an advantage in inventory management.

While this disclosure has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to beunderstood that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosedembodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for stacking fuel cells for a fuel cellstack, comprising: a component part storage region configured to storethe fuel cells; a finished product storage region configured to store acompleted fuel cell stack transferred by at least one automated guidedvehicle (AGV); and a plurality of stacking regions disposed between thecomponent part storage region and the finished product storage region,wherein a first transfer robot is located at a central portion of eachstacking region, wherein a pair of stacking units are disposed atopposite sides of the first transfer robot that is centrally disposed inthe stacking region, wherein one side of the stacking region is formedas an entry and exit for the at least one automated guided vehicle forthe fuel cell stack, and wherein the stacking region is supplied withthe fuel cells from the component part storage region by the at leastone automated guided vehicle to sequentially stack the fuel cells tomanufacture the fuel cell stack.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein thecomponent part storage region comprises a first tray that ismulti-layered to store a plurality of types of fuel cells.
 3. The systemof claim 1, wherein the finished product storage region comprises asecond tray that is multi-layered to store the fuel cell stack.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the first transfer robot is configured toassemble and package the fuel cell stack stacked in the stacking region,and transfers the fuel cell stack to the at least one automated guidedvehicle.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one automatedguided vehicle comprises a first automated guided vehicle moving betweenthe component part storage region and the stacking region and a secondautomated guided vehicle moving between the stacking region and thefinished product storage region.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein thestacking unit comprises: a pair of loading portions each configured toseat the fuel cells supplied from the at least one automated guidedvehicle; a stacking portion disposed between the pair of loadingportions, and configured to sequentially stack the fuel cellstransferred from the loading portion; and a pair of transferringportions each disposed between the loading portion and the stackingportion, and configured to simultaneously clamp the fuel cell loaded onthe loading portion and transfer the clamped fuel cell to the stackingportion.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the loading portioncomprises: a plurality of loading tables that vertically operate as thefuel cell is stacked; a vacuum adsorber disposed adjacent to the loadingtable, and configured to remove a slip sheet of the fuel celltransferred from the loading table, through vacuum adsorption; and avision camera disposed adjacent to the vacuum adsorber, and configuredto picture the fuel cell removed with the slip sheet.
 8. The system ofclaim 7, wherein the loading table comprises: a first upper plate onwhich the fuel cells are stacked; a plurality of first guider barsinstalled to penetrate the first upper plate and configured to align thefuel cells stacked on the first upper plate; a first lower platedisposed below the first upper plate and fixed to the plurality of firstguider bars; a first screw shaft installed at a central portion of alower surface of the first upper plate, engaged with a first screwhousing that is rotatably mounted on the first lower plate through afirst bearing housing, and formed with a first bevel gear; and a firstservo-motor engaged with the first bevel gear of the first screw shaftand configured to apply torque to the first screw shaft through thefirst screw housing to vertically operate the first upper plate.
 9. Thesystem of claim 8, wherein the loading table further comprises a firstheight sensor configured to operate forward and backward with respect toa first auxiliary plate fixed to the first upper plate, and measure aposition of the first upper plate.
 10. The system of claim 6, whereinthe stacking portion comprises: a rotation plate disposed between thepair of loading portions, and configured to rotate through a rotationportion configured at a central portion of the rotation plate where apenetration hole is formed; a plurality of stacking tables disposed onan upper surface of the rotation plate, and configured to sequentiallystack the fuel cells transferred by the transferring portion to a presetquantity of fuel cells, and vertically operate as the fuel cells arestacked; and a tester configured to perform a leakage test for the fuelcells stacked on the stacking table when connected to the stacking tablehaving stacked the preset quantity of fuel cells by the rotation of therotation plate.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the rotation portioncomprises: a first rack gear formed at an interior circumference of thepenetration hole; a first drive gear engaged with the first rack gear;and a third servo-motor connected to the first drive gear and configuredto transmit driving torque to the first drive gear.
 12. The system ofclaim 10, wherein the stacking table comprises: a second upper plate onwhich the fuel cells are stacked; a plurality of second guider barsinstalled to penetrate the second upper plate and configured to alignthe fuel cells stacked on the second upper plate; a second lower platedisposed below the second upper plate and fixed to the plurality ofsecond guider bars; a second screw shaft installed at a central portionof a lower surface of the second upper plate, engaged with a secondscrew housing that is rotatably mounted on the second lower platethrough second bearing housing, and formed with a second bevel gear; anda second servo-motor engaged with the second bevel gear of the secondscrew shaft and configured to apply torque to the second screw shaftthrough the second screw housing to vertically operate the second upperplate.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the stacking table furthercomprises a second height sensor configured to operate forward andbackward with respect to a second auxiliary plate fixed to the secondupper plate, and measure a position of the second upper plate.
 14. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein the tester is configured to, when thestacking table is positioned to a home position by the rotation of therotation plate, move downward to the stacking table to be connected thestacking table and inject gas into the fuel cells 10 stacked on thestacking table.
 15. The system of claim 6, wherein the transferringportion comprises: a fourth servo-motor installed in an actuation body,and connected to a second drive gear through a vertically disposed driveshaft; a circular plate coupled to the second drive gear; at least onesupporting member extending from the circular plate in the form of acantilever and integrally formed to the circular plate; and an adsorberdisposed downward at an end portion of the supporting member, andconfigured to vertically operate, adsorb the fuel cells loaded in theloading portion, and transfer the adsorbed fuel cells to the stackingportion.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the adsorber comprises: anadsorption plate configured to clamp and unclamp the fuel cell throughvacuum adsorption and release; a third screw shaft that is connected tothe adsorption plate and inserted into an engagement hole of thesupporting member, and configured to vertically operate through theengagement hole; and a fifth servo-motor engaged with a driven gearconfigured at the third screw shaft and configured to apply a torque tothe third screw shaft to vertically operate the adsorption plate. 17.The system of claim 15, wherein the transferring portion furthercomprises: a collision preventing member formed to the circular plate ina direction apart from the at least one supporting member; and apressure sensor mounted at an end portion of the collision preventingmember interposing a spring.